Larry Nance Jr. Earns All-Mountain West Honors

Despite missing the last five games of the 2014 season with a knee injury, Wyoming junior forward Larry Nance Jr. was named First Team All-Mountain West and to the league's All-Defensive Team today by MW head coaches and a select media panel.

Nance becomes the first Cowboy to earn First Team All-Conference honors since Brandon Ewing in 2009. The All-MW honors are the first of Nance’s career.

Nance was one of the top big men in the conference before suffering a season-ending torn ACL injury to his right knee against Fresno State on February 18. He averaged 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 2.8 blocks per game and shot 50.4 percent from the field. He led the Cowboys in each of those categories and was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 in steals, blocks and defensive rebounds.

Nance scored in double figures 11 times during MW play. He had two 20-plus point performances and recorded three double-doubles. He scored the game-winning basket at Boise State on January 11 and against Nevada on January 25. Nance also was named MW Player of the Week twice during league play.

In being selected to the All-Defensive Team, Nance's honor makes it three straight years that the Pokes have had a member named to that squad.

No other Cowboy received any recognition for the 2014 Mountain West Conference games.

Nance is joined on the First Team All-MW by Player of the Year Xavier Thames of San Diego State, New Mexico's Cameron Bairstow and Kendall Williams and Nevada's Deonte Burton.

Defensive Player of the Year was awarded to UNLV's Khem Birch for the second straight year. Freshman of the Year was Fresno State's Paul Watson.

San Diego State received three other special awards. Newcomer of the Year was Josh Davis, Sixth Man of the Year honors went to Dwayne Polee II and Coach of the Year was the Aztecs' Steve Fisher.

For a complete look at the 2014 Mountain West Men's Basketball All-Conference awards click here.